Did you know that the first computers were people? "Computer" was originally a job title. People who had the job of “Computer” performed repetitive calculations. These types of calculations were used for navigational tables, tide charts, and planetary positions for astronomical almanacs.
The Abacus
The abacus is a tool that helped people keep track of numbers. There are usually 5 rings on the lower part to represent fingers and 2 rings in the upper part to represent hands. The abacus is often wrongly attributed to China. In fact, the oldest surviving abacus was used in 300 B.C. by the Babylonians.
An old abacus that uses stones instead of rings and rods that we are used to seeing
Did you know that the first computers were people? "Computer" was originally a job title. People who had the job of “Computer” performed repetitive calculations. These types of calculations were used for navigational tables, tide charts, and planetary positions for astronomical almanacs.
The Abacus
The abacus is a tool that helped people keep track of numbers. There are usually 5 rings on the lower part to represent fingers and 2 rings in the upper part to represent hands. The abacus is often wrongly attributed to China. In fact, the oldest surviving abacus was used in 300 B.C. by the Babylonians.
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References:
Kopplin, John. (2002) An illustrated history of computers. Accessed from http://www.computersciencelab.com/ComputerHistory/History.htm